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Some amazing stuff posted here, wow! Here's my entry, by javi Rodriguez guesting at frith street

Getting the script on my chest re-worked by BJ Betts last night. Super cool guy and a great experience :D Pix to come later when I can get my wife to take one! Update, here's a before and after...

I'm an apprentice... I started to learn from Richard in 2002, then we all got a long so much I bought his partner Stace out of his partnership, which was Skin & Bones, a completely different business in the same building... As a business minded person I had to set down the apprenticeship, and focus on the piercing business, but knew I would get to be around and maybe get to have time enough to pick up a few things... It never happened, we maintained a partner relationship from then on... In 2009, we were reunited somewhat... after about 6 months, I was his apprentice again, and still am... What I have gathered from my 13 plus years in the body art profession is this, Tattooers or some of them, are a lot like teenage couples that don't think about the big picture, they get all hot and heavy and forget to take that pill or wear a condom, and oops a baby is born, and they themselves are still children... Babies having Babies is not an ideal situation in population or profession control.... Especially if you care about people and people getting good work. And Richard has always ALWAYS said... Taking an apprentice is like getting married and someone taking your last name as theirs.... And there is no divorce, that's forever. Hence even too risky for him to teach or just trust even a friend to tattoo... They are bound to you for the rest of their career, and you want to teach good tattooing, and it's hard to teach something that we should constantly be learning about... especially if you love it.

Seems I just quit smoking. It's been weird for the last two days haven't touched one. Been a smoker since 13 years old. Anyone else ever quit?

marky mark and bee bunch: nothing wrong with cats. ever. if i had instagram i'd post pics of my 3 cats all the time and then some since my life is pretty uninterresting if you don't know me.

Got this chola lady head from Paul Dobleman at Spider Murphy's in San Rafael, CA.

Ahhhh, so lucky to have the job I have. Only rarely do I wake up not excited to go to work. (Not a tattooer, a speech therapist). :)

Got knee #2 done today. Last thing I'm doing for a little bit. Check out Steve Byrne's instagram.

Finished the eagle today. It's gonna stay black & grey for now.

Hi all, well, i want to show you guys my Laserprojects. i hope you guys understand me, because my englishgrammar is not the best (i never had english in school ;) here are the pictures of my Lowerleg. Before and during the laserprocess. I started it in March 2011. we started to cover it in December 2011. The First Testlasering ! This was on the Inside Outside and start of the first Treatment And finally, it's almost finished! :) And Here is my Current Project i started in november 2011. it goes to the end... it was a full sleeve! almost 10 Years old... not really happy with it at all... Current Status Enjoy :)

Over 35 yrs. of smoking, sometimes 2 packs a day. I quit on 9-19-2012 (International Talk Like a Pirate Day) with the help of auroculotherapy (ear zap). I haven't smoked since but I have gained about 20lbs.! I now view myself as a non-smoker not a quiter.

So here's my first. I was 18, it was 1999. I sometimes think about keeping the skull but getting the tribal bits covered or blended into something else. But fuck it. It's who I was, it was a sign of the times. Again, I wouldn't choose it now, but I don't regret or hide it. Despite my shitty cell phone shot it still looks pretty unfaded in person. I stay out of the sun though.

It's "the bee's knees" for sure! :)

Yup, that's on me. I can't believe it's on me. I'm beyond stoked. - - - Updated - - - Thanks! All I told him was I wanted a lady head with the Wu-Tang logo somewhere in there. He did an amazing job. I had no idea he listened to Wu-Tang. He said Liquid Swords was his favorite solo album.

I want a serpent. immediately. also, I need to contact Bailey Hunter Robinson because he is god damned great. ps. Dennis here at @ProvidenceTattoo aint so bad either.

@Kahlan No lecture here, everyone else seems to have done a great job of that. Just some straight up info: At the shop I work in (Which may or may not have a reputation on being harsh to 'wannabes') we get at least one person each week asking for an apprenticeship. In the summer months we get AT LEAST two per week, often more. Aside from the fact than none of them can draw and most haven't been tattooed at our shop, - I'm not even sure if any of them know what kind of work we do (hint: almost everything) they certainly don't look through any of our folios while they are in the shop. - There is no way that our city can support 52 to 104 new tattooers each year. I've been there since 2007. That would be over 800 new tattooers. But really, shitty tattooers should stop taking apprentices and helping them become shitty tattooers. If a good tattooer won't teach you, tough shit. If a good tattooer does teach you, I hate you because I never got that chance and I did a whole bunch of shitty tattoos while I was 'learning'.

Just for fun, here is my finished dragon by Kore Flatmo. Its only eight days into the month and there are already so many amazing tattoos posted. Thats pretty awesome.

So last night I went to a friends house to watch the UFC fights. There were a few people that have had some work down buy this girl who works out if her kitchen. NEVER have I seen a collection of complete and utter CRAP. What's funny is all they talked about was how cheap she is. I just don't get WHY someone would pay sooo little for something that is sooo important. It's not like a cheap haircut. I was talking to one of the "victims" and said I was getting something done on Friday. She asked "by whom" which I replied Aaron Coleman. She said "Oh a friend of mine got some work done by him. He charges by the hour and takes lots of breaks..." I said that's fine with me, that means he takes his time and I don't mind breaks in between the pain.

Hello LST! I've been lurking for a while and thought i might as well create a profile here. I have only gotten a single tattoo at the time, but I'm obsessed about getting more work done. I live in Thailand at the moment, but will soon move back to my native Denmark. I've been putting off getting more tattoos, because none of the tattooers here in my town - to my knowledge - do the kind i want - Traditional - very good. I have alot of good options when i return to Copenhagen, so i guess i'll just have to wait - even though it sucks! I was introduced to this site through the fantastic youtube videos, which i have seen at least 5 times each. I dont see myself posting to much, as i dont feel I have much to bring to the table in terms of knowledge, but I'm satisfied listening and learning. Thanks for providing an awesome board, Simon.

yeah homegirl knows her business! (i got it after some hours of thinking...haha) foshizzle!

Welcome, Nallac94. Enjoy yourself here. @BAM773 Bangor is a great spot. My best friend lives there.

@Jennifer Stell I felt this today when I was with my mentor. Just watching. It's true. I'm a product of him, and goddamn me if I let him down.

@else, I love the new knee.

Hi, all just introducing myself, I'm 23 always been addicted to the tattoo industry a huge lover of the finer arts ;), recently gained my tattoo apprenticeship a few months ago.. learning the basics and drawing..drawing and drawing some more. I have an amazing teacher, who i have a huge amount of respect for! Just enjoy reading other artists insights and knowledge ;) Cheers Elle

I only smoked from 15-20, probably smoked half pack to a pack a day most of the time. I quit on my 20th birthday after getting really messed up and waking up hacking a lung. It mostly worked, I never really started again, but would smoke when drinking, and when I dated girls I the occasional became more frequent. But I can say for the last 5 years I haven't had one single cigarette. So it took me about 8 years to fully quit.

Hello all, My name is Dave and I am an IT analyst in Cincinnati, OH. I am a married father of two boys. I am into photography and motorcycles, and have a deep appreciation for the artistry behind tattoos and tattooing. I am a few months shy of my 40th birthday. I got a very small tattoo on my right shoulder blade when I was 18 years old and for years have wanted to go big. I am in a secure job, everything is nice and boring and I am ready for a change. I am in the early stages of planning full sleeves for both arms. I'd love to hear any advice you have. I'm guessing "don't do it!" won't be the sort of thing I'll have to listen to around here. :-) It looks like the gallery is extensive, I am very excited to start looking through all of the great tattoos represented there. Dave

BJ Betts tomorrow, can't wait! I'm going to have to though, my appt isn't till 9 PM :(

Who needs to apprentice when you have the internet and youtube has tutorials! (jokes)

Nathan Kostechko

Because they don't know you. That's why. I only just started my path to tattooing. I'm 30 years old. I've been getting tattooed for about 14 years now. I get tattooed often. I have developed friendships. And I'm so fortunate that my mentors see something in me. Not sure what it is yet, b/c even though this door has opened, I have to work very hard every step of the way. Just keep getting tattooed. Keep working on the fundamentals of drawing. Keep discovering the artwork in this industry that gets you so stoked that you can't imagine doing anything else for the rest of your life. And hopefully something will open up down the road for you. You've got to put a lot in before you get back. Good luck. And read what @Deb Yarian wrote. It's perfect.

My mom tried to stab me with a pair of scissor when she saw my first tattoo. Haha

I tried taking a photo of my latest from Javi Rodriguez but unfortunately i have my right arm in a cast at the moment so it wasn't easy. I've settled for pilfering one from his instagram instead. Done at the fantastic frith street on Tuesday.

Tattoo by Chad Koeplinger done at Frith Street Tattoo in London, England Filled up the spot nicely! (and quickly 2 Hours!)

I saw this on his IG it's awesome congrats.

Politics of the Piercing Profession, I try to be nice... You would have seen me a lot more, but... I am less drama lately... funny how busting your ass takes the fun out of being an ass...

What the heck, I'll throw mine in the ring this month...Got this one back in Janurary. Done by Thomas Deaton at Twisted Reality tattoo

This is the winner, at least I hope. Such a nice tattoo.

He and Gilsdorf are some of the best and most inspiring tattooers working right now.

Latest update: Next appoints with Adam Hays are in May to finish up my sleeve. Much to my surprise, I had no scabbing. Itched like a bitch for awhile with the skin flaking off. When I am tired and not thinking I find myself walking across the house and out of the corner of my eye I get surprised that I have a full sleeve. My girls love it. "That's my horsey!" says one of my 3yo daughters.

Great to see Chad Koeplinger in there! I happen to have a Japanese piece from him. ;-)

Here's my anchor!! We went a lot bigger and more colorful than I thought we would going in... Love it! :D

Done at 2:a Långgatan Tatuering aka American Art, been going since 70's by Magnus Tufvesson. a good guy. Nova is my youngest daughter. getting some fillers around it to finish up that arm in a couple of weeks or so.

This has to be the worst thread to read the day before a tattoo session. I am getting from ass to back of knee colored in tommorrow. Back of knee sucked for outline and black and right below ass was pretty tender.

My vote is the ass. After having a 3 hour session on the 17th and a 6 hour session on the 23rd all on coloring in a kimono with a phoenix on my ass it was the worst I have experienced so far. (and yes I am a relativley large guy.)

I'm bummed this is sideways, but am too lazy to fix it. If you have me on instagram you saw this last week, but figured I would post it here. Tobias lives.

!!! That Matt Ariola dragon-sword-flames backpiece is one of my favourite that I have seen. Hope to get tattooed by that fellow in my future. Well done!

I have to admit that I am now totally addicted to Instagram! I had written it off as very Iphoney/hipsterish (and since I am too old to be "cool" anymore, and don't use an Iphone... well...). But Wow!! I signed up just to follow some of the tattooers I like but since then I'm following all kinds of other people too. It's probably my favorite site right now. I'm constantly checking my feed for new pictures. I can't believe I was missing out on this for so long!

This is a creepy one from the Grime on my leg, snake lady with double titays and gimpy arms...sweeet!!

i did this one a few weeks ago